The Purchasing Division recently
participated in the Teaming to Win conference in the northern part of the state to
generate interest in the states competitive bidding process.

Purchasing Director Dave Tincher conducted one-on-one counseling
sessions with vendors who wanted to learn more about how they may better market their
goods and services to state government. Purchasing Division employees, Diane Holley, Scott
Padon and Debbie Watkins, met many potential bidders at the divisions booth which
offered a variety of informational materials, including the Marketing Your Business to
the State of West Virginia Vendor Guide, the Vendor Registration and Disclosure
Statement Form, the list of procurement officers for state government, commodity
assignments and much more.

"Participating in these types of events offers us an opportunity
to promote the benefits of selling to state agencies," Tincher said. "It is
obvious that the interest is present. We are dedicated to continue our efforts in reaching
out to our vendor community, by offering the necessary informational resources that will
assist and encourage them to participate in the competitive bidding process within state
government."

West Virginia business representatives joined vendors from several
different states at the 4th Annual Vendor Purchasing Conference.
Representatives from companies in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois, Washington D.C.,
Maryland and others states traveled to Canaan Valley State Resort and Conference Center on
May 15-17 to learn more about the states purchasing process.

An evaluation sheet was included in the conference packets and the
analysis indicates an overwhelmingly positive response. For more details, see article
"Vendor Conference Proves to be a Success by Business Participants"!

In the recent past, the
Purchasing Division conducted meetings on a regular basis with agencies that procured a
substantial volume of goods and services on behalf of the state of West Virginia. The
primary purpose of these meetings was to improve the purchasing process and enhance
communication between the Purchasing Division and the respective agency.

Issues of concern by the agency were discussed and, in many cases,
potential problems were curtailed or resolved. Innovative ideas also were generated during
these meetings.

Because of demands during the legislative session and personnel changes
within the Acquisition and Contract Administration Section, the meetings were temporarily
postponed. However, because of the positive response received by the agency
representatives, I am pleased to resume the agency meetings on your terms the
frequency is up to you!

The Purchasing Division is interested in visiting your agency on a
one-time or regular basis. Our entire staff is available, any or all of us will come at
your request. Simply contact Debbie Watkins
at (304) 558-3568 to set up a date and time.

From our past experiences, these meetings are extremely beneficial in
maintaining the open lines of communication that are vital in our working relationship. It
is efforts such as these meetings that enable us to continue to enhance the procurement
initiative in the state of West Virginia.

At the 4th Annual Vendor Purchasing Conference at Canaan Valley
State Resort in May, two workshop presentations were videotaped to assist in the
Purchasing Division's new business development initiative.

"How to Get Started" and "The Basic Process
Continues" presentations were taped to be used as a training tool for businesses that
are new to the state purchasing process.

Scott Padon, New Business Development Manager for the Purchasing
Division, attends meetings and workshops throughout the state to assist business
representatives in learning more about opportunities available in marketing to state
government.

These two workshops offer a basic overview of the required steps
necessary before the bidding process ("How to Get Started") and the bid,
evaluation and award process ("The Basic Process Continues").

Vendors who are new to the state purchasing process may contact Scott
Padon via e-mail at spadon@
gwmail.state.wv.us or by telephone at (304) 558-3488. He will work closely with
the vendor in explaining many facets of the state purchasing process.

A vendor guide, "Marketing to the State of West Virginia," is also published
to provide information on how to do business with our state government. This guide may be
found electronically at the Purchasing Division's website at www.state. wv.us/admin/purchase/vrc.

After six years of unglamorous performance, value funds are making a
comeback. While the Nasdaq showed a significant decline between March 10 and the year end,
value funds were rising significantly, more than growth funds.

Many portfolios are tilted toward growth funds, and a little rebalance is appropriate.
Regardless of what the market does, value funds move at their own pace, which provides a
safety net when the market is falling.

The West Virginia State Agency for Surplus
Property (WVSASP) has been busy conducting two auctions of a different nature. One auction
was located in the eastern portion of the state in Romney and the other consisted of federal
property, a first of this type of sale in the agencys history.

On May 18, several members of the WVSASP staff traveled to Romney to
prepare for a state property auction. Property from surrounding state facilities were
accumulated at the WV School for the Deaf and Blind in Romney for the sale. "This was
a tough job, as our four employees had to unload and line up five tractor-trailer loads of
property for the auction. Although the weather was cold and damp, the sale went well and
several of our customers had positive comments about bringing the sale to them," said
WVSASP Manager Ken Frye. Approximately 60 bidders were registered for the sale.

In addition to this sale, WVSASP ventured in an area that they have
never gone before conducting a sale of federal surplus property. Because the federal
program is overseen by the U.S. General Services Administration, WVSASP has never
attempted to plan for such a sale, which has different terms and conditions than state
sales.

Federal Warehouse Supervisor Danny Layton
and his staff prepared for the federal sale of property that was held on June 1.
Approximately 1,000 individual pieces of federal property were combined into 351 lots.
Frye indicated that this property had an inventory value of over $2 million and was about
one third of its entire federal inventory. "This was the first sale of this type that
has ever been conducted by this agency," Frye said. "It was very successful.
Nearly 240 individuals were registered."

Frye added that due to the success, he plans to make this sale an
annual event at its facility in Dunbar. "Most states sell federal property online
using the federal governments website. We conducted a local auction because we
wanted to give our West Virginia customers an opportunity to purchase federal surplus
property and they were very appreciative of our efforts."

NOTICE

The Surplus Property Federal Warehouse will be closed for federal
inventory during the week of July 8. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause;
however, this task is required annulally by the U.S. General Services Administration.

CODE OF ETHICS
The Institute believes, and it is a condition of membership, that the following ethical
principles should govern the conduct of every person employed by any public sector
procurement or materials management organization.

1. Seeks or accepts a position as head or employee only when
fully in accord with the professional principles applicable thereto, and when confident of
possessing the qualifications to serve under those principles to the advantage of the
employing organization.

2. Believes in the dignity and worth of services rendered by the
organization and the social responsibilities assumed as a trusted public servant.

3. Is governed by the highest ideals of honor and integrity in
all public and personal relationships, in order to merit the respect and inspire the
confidence of the organization and the public being served.

4. Believes that personal aggrandizement or personal profit
obtained through misuse of public or personal relationships is dishonest and not
tolerable.

5. Identifies and eliminates participation of any individual in
operational situations where a conflict of interest may be involved.

6. Believes that members of the Institute and its staff should
at no time or under any circumstances, accept directly or indirectly, gifts, gratuities or
other things of value from suppliers.

7. Keeps the governmental organization informed, through
appropriate channels, of problems and progress of applicable operations, but personally
remains in the background by emphasizing the importance of the facts.

8. Resists encroachment on control of personnel in order to
preserve integrity as a professional manager. Handles all personnel matters on a merit
basis. Political, religious, racial, gender and age considerations carry no weight in
personnel administration in the agency being directed or served.

9. Seeks or dispenses no personal favors. Handles each
administrative problem objectively and empathetically on the basis of principles and
justice without discrimination.

10. Subscribes to and supports the professional aims and
objectives of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

Just a reminder that beginning July 1, 2002, the West
Virginia Purchasing Bulletin will be mailed bi-weekly to paid, registered
vendors; however, an electronic weekly issue may be viewed on the Purchasing
Divisions website at www.
state.wv.us/admin/purchase.

Since October 1, 2001, the Purchasing Division has printed and mailed
the West Virginia Purchasing Bulletin to all paid registered vendors,
approximately 6,500, on a weekly basis. At that time, the Purchasing Division indicated to
vendors that the weekly paper copies would be available only for a short time, due to the
high cost of printing and postage. Secured access on the website requires the
vendors computer-generated number and the check number from which the registration
or subscription renewal was paid.

Practice DOES make perfect or so it appears when it comes
to offering training conferences for the Purchasing Division.

For the fourth year, vendors convened to not only learn more about how
to do business with West Virginias state government, but equally important, to
network with state purchasing officials and among other vendors.

For the first year, the vendor conference was open to all vendors;
however, in-state vendors had the opportunity to pre-register two weeks prior to
"open registration.". In the past, only West Virginia vendors were invited to
the conference.

"The conference was an obvious success, with vendors coming to me
and my staff praising our efforts," said Purchasing Director Dave Tincher.

According to evaluation results, 100 percent of the respondents rated
the overall conference with good or excellent. The organization of the
conference also received high ratings, with 84% percent giving the rating of excellent
with the remaining offering a good rating.

Ten different workshops were offered, in addition to the one-on-one
consultation sessions. Nearly all of the workshops received 100% ratings of good or
excellent.

The one-on-one consultation sessions received a 96% rating of good
or excellent.

The majority of the vendors indicated that they heard about the
conference through a purchasing representative. We would like to extend our gratitude to
YOU for helping us promote this worthwhile training event.

VENDOR FEEDBACK

Here is what our participants said about this training event:

Once again, this has been an excellent conference. Thanks!

Excellent information for me as a new vendor.

This conference was excellent! I appreciate the Purchasing
Divisions efforts in hosting this conference. Good job!

Very good. Please invite us to your next conference.

Again, I was impressed with the state employees represented here. Thank
you for being so kind and helpful.

Thank you. I was thinking of canceling and am VERY glad I did not. This
conference has raised my spirits.

Absolutely a great opportunity for myself and my company. Thanks for a great
job and a great conference.

National Travel, Inc., in conjunction with the State Travel
Management Office, conducted seminars for agency travel coordinators, focusing on online
reservations, website features, discounts and private fares, and electronic ticketing.
Pictured is Ted Lawson of National Travel.

There are times in one's life where you will have to negotiate something,
be it a business deal or deciding who will pick up the kids from soccer practice. If you
follow these negotiation tips, you will find that your negotiations will be more efficient
and less stressful.

· Be Creative.
Brainstorm, listen to outlandish proposals and open unusual possibilities. This will
expand agreement opportunities.

· Be Fair.
If people feel you are being fair with them, they are more likely to make real
commitments and less likely to walk away. Commitment cannot occur unless everyone feels
the process was fair.

· Listen Actively. If you spend all of your listening time planning how to respond to members of the
other party, then, when they stop talking, you do not know what they have said. When your
response makes it clear that you have really been listening, they too may be more willing
to listen.

Negotiations skills are important to your development as a procurement officer and as a
co-worker.

O'Toole indicated that her experience in dealing with state government
has been positive. She attended this year's vendor conference for the first time and was
very pleased with the marketing opportunities. She has dealt closely with the departments
of Administration, Tax and Revenue and Transportation. "The conference offered a
wealth of information and an opportunity to socialize and develop relationships," she
said.

For more details on the services offered by Access Systems, contact Maureen O'Toole at
(304) 340-4288 or via electronic mail at motoole@accesswv.com..

Please remember that the Purchasing Division is
planning to revise its Purchasing Division Policies and Procedures Handbook this
month. If you have any suggestions or comments regarding this resource guide, please
contact Diane Holley at (304) 558-0661 or via electronic mail at dholley@gwmail.state.wv.us.

Are you unsure of certain purchasing procedures? ... Do you have a
question regarding travel requests? ... Would you want to know what surplus property is
available? ... If you need information concerning any function within the Purchasing
Division, complete this form: